The narrator reflects on how the media's portrayal of him aligns disturbingly with reality. He recognizes that the press has not misrepresented his actions; rather, they have depicted his life accurately, revealing a sense of shame over his own behavior. Both the public and the narrator see him through the lens of sensationalist headlines, leading him to confront the uncomfortable truth about his choices and the consequences that ensue.

This realization strikes him as both profound and humiliating, as he considers the implications of being portrayed as someone devoid of integrity or dignity. It raises questions about identity and how much of it is shaped by external perceptions. Ultimately, the narrator grapples with the overwhelming sense that he has unwittingly lived up to the very worst of what the media has claimed about him.